Scientists Are Just Now Figuring Out The Mysterious Disease That Nearly Wiped Out The Aztecs

Ranker ^ | 4/22/2024 | Elias

[Phoenix8]

For hundreds of years, history left us wondering what disease killed the Aztecs in the mid-1500s. Many assumed the Aztecs were one of many Central American groups to be wiped out by European diseases like smallpox. However, DNA testing has unearthed new evidence about what really killed 80% of the Aztecs.

Scientists extracted DNA from Aztec teeth, and discovered the presence of a strand of Salmonella. Research on climate change in Mexico at the time indicates droughts could have precipitated the spread of disease. Some things remain unexplained, however; only continued research can explain how a massive epidemic ravaged the Aztecs and whether the invading Spanish introduced something fatal to the population.

[TangoLimaSierra]

So Fauci was alive to wipe out people even then.

[Dahoser]

Long as we're on the subject, one of my favorite songs of all time:

   Conquistador (https://youtu.be/B0TQfpyYO38?si=uKo4Gpmbl7KywGlQ)

[Jan_Sobieski]

Great reference! Which book are you referring to? I would like to read it!

[imabadboy99]

But the leftists said the natives were just honest to goodness naive sinless “noble savages” living in the garden of Eden until the evil white man showed up and destroyed everything.

[Justa]

“Since Paratyphoid fever only killed about 1% of those infected...”

1% of Europeans with modern medical care.

Now adjust for no resistance and no medical care.

[nopardons]

BTTT

[Charles Martel]

Amazing resemblance! It begs the question: Is Fauci a time-traveler or an ancient demon?

[GranTorino]

It couldn’t be that they were killing all the kids and butt banging each other?
Sounds more plausible.
That’s the way the US was headed.

[SunkenCiv]

Salmonella History
Dr. Tomislav Meštrović, MD, Ph.D.
Reviewed by Benedette Cuffari, M.Sc.
https://www.news-medical.net/health/Salmonella-History.aspx

Salmonella is an important bacterial genus that causes one of the most common forms of food poisoning worldwide. Throughout history, typhoid fever, which is caused by Salmonella enterica serovar Typhi, triggered many dire outbreaks. Over time, people eventually recognized the link between this disease and contaminated food or beverages.

Karl Joseph Eberth, who was a physician and student of Rudolf Virchow, discovered the bacillus in the abdominal lymph nodes and the spleen in 1879. After he had published his observations in 1880 and 1881, his discovery was subsequently confirmed by German and English bacteriologists, including Robert Koch.

The genus “Salmonella” was named after Daniel Elmer Salmon, who was a veterinary pathologist who ran the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) microorganism research program in the 1800s. Together with Theobald Smith, Salmon found Salmonella in hogs that succumbed to the disease known as hog cholera.

(continues with the story of “Typhoid Mary”)

[MeanWestTexan]

Land is weird. In another area I’ve got five sections (as in square miles) that had major gas lines on it, a huge electric substation, and gas plants. Windmills. Typical mediocre pasture. Tax value is $5k/acre. Pretty ugly, a cow every 50 acres kind of dirt ranch.

Well it’s big enough and has gigawatts of power available plus highway frontage such that the big processing centers are offering me $100million and bidding against each other, Apparently suitable sites are slim. They’ll put their own little campus and airport and whatever.

I bought it as a favor from a buddy 20 years ago and regretted it ever since.

We’re talking the middle of nowhere.

[Brooklyn Attitude]

“Now adjust for no resistance and no medical care.”

Maybe a 10% death rate. Medical care in America and Europe was not great before public sanitation and antibiotics. The Aztecs did have herbal meds and antiseptics, surgery etc. They weren’t as primitive as Native Americans.

[Robert A Cook PE]

And, even the fastestvand nastiest of the “Black Death” symptoms seem spreading by secondary infection and tertiary vectors (infected human to infect flea to carry by rat to infect fleas to infect next human) appears too slow.

I suspect something different. Something spread directly person to person like the 1918 flu was spread. Airborne transmitted, yes. But by lingering contact also.

[SunkenCiv]

The rest of the Salmonella keyword, sorted:

• Tomato Juice Can Kill Salmonella, The Bacteria That Terrorizes Our Guts [01/31/2024]
• Pathogens Detected in Bronze Age Remains in Greece [08/14/2022]
• Jif peanut butter products recalled due to possible salmonella concerns [05/23/2022]
• CDC links salmonella outbreak to salami sticks sold at Trader Joe's [10/24/2021]
• CDC issues warning on onion-linked salmonella outbreak in 37 states [10/21/2021]
• More than 270 infected in mysterious salmonella outbreak detected in 29 states [09/25/2021]
• A Salmonella Outbreak Has Spread To 17 States And It's Linked To Italian Meats [08/26/2021]
• Salmonella: CDC urges Americans not to kiss chickens amid outbreak (Don't Be a Dumb Cluck!) [05/22/2021]
• Jule's Foods recalls all of its plant-based products over salmonella risk [04/27/2021]
• Cat food sold nationwide recalled over risks to pets and humans [11/17/2019]
• 62 People Sickened in Salmonella Outbreak Linked to Papayas From Mexico [06/29/2019]
• Feds: Backyard flocks sicken people in 44 states [Chickens] [07/24/2018]
• ...100 Salmonella infections in 33 states linked to Kellogg's Honey Smacks cereal. Do not eat [07/13/2018]
• Salmonella Outbreak Linked to Kellogg's Honey Smacks Cereal Sickens 73, Including 5 in California [06/15/2018]
• 207 million eggs in nine states recalled over salmonella fears [04/14/2018]
• Collapse of Aztec society linked to catastrophic salmonella outbreak [02/20/2017]
• Salmonella outbreak at Alabama wedding sickens 77 guests [11/18/2016]
• CDC: Salmonella outbreak hits 35 states [Mexican cucumbers] [10/07/2015]
• Government tells Americans to stop eating cookie dough [12/24/2014]
• Coming Egg Shortage Will Tax Family Budgets [12/20/2014]
• Dozens Attending NAACP Gala At Redwood City Hotel Sickened After Meal Of Salmon, Salad [10/29/2014]
• Million jars of peanut butter dumped in New Mexico [03/29/2014]
• (ITEOTWAWKI) ... Zombie Pigeons Invade Moscow [08/20/2013]
• P&G Voluntarily Recalls Limited Quantity of Dry Pet Food Due to Possible Health Risk [08/14/2013]
• CDC: Pet Hedgehogs May Endanger Your Health [03/06/2013]
• Peanut Butter Recall Extended to Raw, Roasted Peanuts [10/16/2012]
• Peanut butter recall expands to major retailers [10/03/2012]
• Trader Joe's recalls peanut butter [09/23/2012]
• Salmonella in dog food sickens 14 people in US [05/05/2012]
• Taco Bell Linked To Salmonella Probe after 68 People Fall Ill in 10 States, Report Says [02/02/2012]
• CDC: 1 death, 76 illnesses linked to ground turkey [08/02/2011]
• Salmonella Outbreak Tied to Chicks, Ducklings (FoxHealthNews) [06/10/2011]
• Salmonella hits US teaching labs - Wave of infections triggers investigation into biosafety... [05/10/2011]
• Pig ears with salmonella risk recalled [05/03/2011]
• Green grocery bags can carry countless bacteria [12/16/2010]
• Salmonella 'Could Cure Cancer' [10/24/2010]
• Why Senator Dianne Feinstein Should Be Held Accountable in Egg Recall [09/04/2010]
• Eggs from suspect farms will be processed, sold [08/25/2010]
• Egg Recall -- Affected Brands and Descriptions (w FULL list of codes) [08/20/2010]
• Is Jack DeCoster to Blame for Massive Egg Recall? [380 Million Eggs Have Been Recalled] [08/20/2010]
• Health Officials Recall 380 Million Eggs Over Salmonella Outbreak [08/19/2010]
• Egg Recall in Effect Due to Salmonella Contamination Fears [08/17/2010]
• Nationwide Cat Food Recall- Feline's Pride suspects Salmonella Contamination [07/03/2010]
• Chicago Law Firm, THE LAW GROUP,Investigates a Statewide Class Action Lawsuit Against Subway [06/11/2010]
• Manufacturer expands pet food recall [03/09/2010]
• Recalls this week: Soups, dips and window shades [03/05/2010]
• Foodborne illness costs US $152 billion annually, landmark report estimates [03/03/2010]
• Shelled pecans recalled over salmonella fears [02/26/2010]
• FDA Warns: Salmonella Found In Dog Treats Distributed By Merrick Pet Care [01/15/2010]
• Salmonella outbreak linked to pet frogs [01/08/2010]
• Salmonella: Drug-Resistant Strain of Bacteria Gains in Africa, With High Death Rates [12/01/2009]
• Tiny turtles not safe for children [11/11/2009]
• FDA: Dog treats tainted with Salmonella [11/06/2009]
• Officials: 28 Sick From Beef in 3 States [08/08/2009]
• FDA says to avoid pistachios amid salmonella scare [03/30/2009]
• Kroger recalls pistachios sold in Texas [03/30/2009]
• Peanut Corp. of America files for bankruptcy [02/13/2009]
• Peanut Corp. president urged shipping tainted nuts [02/11/2009]
• Accidental Discovery Has Potential To Keep Food And Drugs Safer And Fresher Longer [02/06/2009]
• Worker: I Saw Rat Roasting In Peanut Plant (Facility Being Probed In Salmonella Outbreak) [02/03/2009]
• FDA helped unleash salmonella-laced peanuts on public [02/03/2009]
• Recall of Peanut-Containing Products: Salmonella Typhimurium (FDA) [01/31/2009]
• Recalls: trail mix, NutriSystem bars, ice cream [01/31/2009]
• FDA inspectors found many problems at Georgia peanut plant [01/27/2009]
• Investigation Update: Outbreak of Salmonella Typhimurium Infections, 2008 -- 2009 [01/25/2009]
• Peanut Butter-Linked Salmonella Outbreak Causes Care Package Concerns [01/22/2009]
• Stop eating foods containing peanut butter, FDA says [01/20/2009]
• More recalls of peanut butter products announced [Kellogg, General Mills, Meijer, Kroger] [01/20/2009]
• Little Debbie peanut butter crackers recalled [01/18/2009]
• Consumers urged to use caution eating peanut butter (and products containing peanut pastes) - UPDATE [01/17/2009]
• Peanut butter probe expands; takes on new urgency [01/16/2009]
• Can Peanut Butter and Jelly Save the World? (Global Warming Kookiness) [01/13/2009]
• CDC: Tainted peanut butter, 3 deaths may be linked [01/13/2009]
• Salmonella outbreak spreads to 42 states, CDC says [01/07/2009]
• Health Warning Issued After 32 Sickened by Salmonella in 12 States [10/05/2008]
• Pet Food Recall - MARS Brand (see list) [09/13/2008]
• Salmonella Outbreak Traced to Irrigation System, Pepper at Mexican Farm [07/30/2008]
• UPDATE 1-US narrows salmonella warning to Mexican jalapenos [07/25/2008]
• FDA finds salmonella in local jalapeños[South Texas/Mexico] [07/22/2008]
• FDA Asserts Authority To Bankrupt Innocent Parties As Part Of FDA's Pursuit Of "Public Health" [07/21/2008]
• Salmonella outbreak traced to MEXICAN grown produce [07/21/2008]
• Tomatoes OK, jalapenos in hot seat [07/21/2008]
• Salmonella scare now threatening a local favorite[pico de gallo] [07/10/2008]
• Salmonella Illness Toll Tops 1,000; Officials Eye Jalapeno Peppers [07/09/2008]
• Salmonella signs point to peppers [07/05/2008]
• Failed policy [07/02/2008]
• Salmonella Tomato Outbreak Biggest Ever [06/27/2008]
• Public Health Expert: "...this tomato outbreak investigation has bordered on incompetence." [06/26/2008]
• Lou Dobbs Lunacy: Bush Should Be Impeached for Salmonella Outbreak [06/20/2008]
• Dobbs Blames 'Moronic' Salmonella Response on President Bush and 'His FDA' [06/17/2008]
• COMMENTARY: Repelling the Killer Tomatoes [06/15/2008]
• FDA Investigators Stumped By Outbreak [06/14/2008]
• FDA: Florida, Mexico Supplied 'Majority' of Tomatoes in Outbreak [06/14/2008]
• Salmonella Fear Traps Tomatoes in Mexico [06/14/2008]
• North America Tomato Industry Reeling: Growers [06/10/2008]
• Salmonellosis Outbreak in Certain Types of Tomatoes Updated: June 9, 2008 [06/09/2008]
• Food Poisoning Tied to Tomatoes Spreads [06/08/2008]
• Cereal link to food poisoning is probed [04/13/2008]
• Bacteria tails could protect against 'dirty' bomb [04/11/2008]
• Colo. town closer to drinkable tap water [03/29/2008]
• Fresh Spinach From California Recalled [08/29/2007]
• Cadbury's Let Salmonella Get Into Bars [07/13/2007]
• Veggie Booty snack food recalled [06/28/2007]
• Two Separate FDA Recalls of Dog Biscuits and Chews [04/05/2007]
• Another Pet Food Recall Announced Today [04/02/2007]
• FDA Warns Consumers Not to Eat Certain Jars of Peter Pan and Great Value Peanut Butter [02/15/2007]
• FDA Warns Consumers Not to Eat Certain Jars of Peter Pan Peanut Butter and Great Value Peanut Butter [02/14/2007]
• Salmonella Survives Better In Stomach Due To Altered DNA [01/30/2007]
• Salmonella Scare Sparks Hershey Recall [11/12/2006]
• CDC Investigating Salmonella Outbreak [10/31/2006]
• Carrying Filth: A 2News Investigation [Filthy Purses] [08/03/2006]
• Chocolate salmonella linked to more products [07/02/2006]
• Cold Stone ice cream linked to salmonella [07/03/2005]
• Rodent pets make dozens sick with salmonella [05/06/2005]
• The Claim: Drinking Alcohol With a Meal Prevents Food Poisoning [02/16/2005]
• 400 suspected with food poisoning [01/21/2005]
• Turtle dealer wins in the end [11/26/2004]
• Study Indicates Tomatoes Likely Cause of Salmonella Outbreak That Sickened More Than 280 [07/23/2004]
• PA Agriculture Dept: Tomatoes Source of Salmonella [at Sheetz] [07/19/2004]
• Paprika Recall Expanded Because of Possible Contamination [06/11/2004]
• Almond sales unhurt by salmonella recall [06/08/2004]
• Almond Recall After Reports of Salmonella [05/29/2004]
• Drug-Resistant Gonorrhea on Rise [04/30/2004]
• Food-borne diseases take heavy toll on public (forget about mad cow disease) [01/05/2004]
• Company recalls paprika for health risk (Salmonella tainted) [06/13/2003]
• SARS: Growing number of diseases jump from exotic animals to humans [06/10/2003]
• Schumer Calls for New Meat Supply Regulations [05/26/2003]
• The biowar threat: Jordanian 'mastermind' sought [04/29/2003]
• AIRLINE WATER IS DANGEROUS TO YOUR HEALTH!!!!!! Coffee, Tea...or Salmonella? DOUBLE BRAF ALERT!!! [02/09/2003]
• Parents protest U.S. schools irradiated meat plan [12/17/2002]
• Burlington, Iowa Salmonella strain very rare, CDC says (unique and virulent strain) [09/08/2002]
• Warning issued on illegal cheese: SALMONELLA OUTBREAK:50 POISONINGS LINKED TO QUESO FRESCO [04/04/2002]
• Suspected bad cannolis hospitalize 7 [03/10/2002]

[Kudsman]

Research on climate change in Mexico at the time

Huh, 1500s, are we sure Democrats weren't to blame?

[SunkenCiv]

Thanks Phoenix8. Salmonella 'bug' wasn't IDed until the late 19th c; typhoid has been suggested as having been the Plague of Athens during the Peloponnesian War.

[null and void]

So Montezuma’s Revenge killed his own people?

Nah, it was Montezuma’s Prevenge!

[SunkenCiv]

• Secret Of Ancient Athens Plague Is Being Unraveled [01/21/2006]
• Typhoid May Have Caused Fall Of Athens, Study Finds [03/27/2006]

[Justa]

“Maybe a 10% death rate.”

I disagree. Placed into historical context some bacterial infections had a localized death rate of 100%.

I consider the Black Death as a good comparison of what primitive practices and procedures did to exacerbate illness. Like typhoid (salmonella) Yersinia pestis is a bacteria pathogen where living conditions, customs and underlying health greatly magnified mortality. People who survived the Black Death, such as those Nostradamus nursed, were usually fed a balanced diet, not bled and kept warm. In some cases of high mortality the common responses were to bleed the patient, place them outside, bathe them in ice water, inhale incense or smoke, etc.

The absence of modern resources is what caused great mortality imo. Historical death rates are chiefly the product of living conditions, diet and medical treatment more than the strength of the bacteria. Many of the plagues occurred during times of bad harvests where food was scarce. People already week from hunger were often denied food once sick (saved for the living).

[Vaduz]

Bubonic Plague sounds like a reasonable answer due to how they stored their food like like open bowls of grain.

Dang it puts a crimp on the liberals evil white man agenda.

[Phoenix8]

I mostly agree but wasn’t there a pneumonia form of the Black Death that developed that could spread directly from aerosol droplets?